Politics

UPDATE: Anaheim approves new hybrid model for city council; rejects district elections

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Anaheim resident, Rabiya Shakil (center), 20, stands with other community members during a July 31, 2012 press conference calling for city leaders to address a lack of Latino and minority representation in City Hall.
Bear Guerra/KPCC

UPDATE 9:41 P.M.:After a contentious four-hour meeting, the Anaheim City Council decided by a 3-2 vote to put a “hybrid” election model on the ballot next June. But in another 3-2 vote, it rejected a recommendation from a citizens advisory council – appointed by the city council – to let voters decide on district elections.

The district model was proposed after a lawsuit was filed by the ACLU arguing the city’s at-large voting system violates the California Voting Rights Act. Anaheim’s city council is all-white, while the city is more than 50 percent Latino.

Proponents argue it allows the broadest level of representation and has been successful in Anaheim’s neighbor, Santa Ana.

But Anaheim’s mayor and the ACLU – which sued the city – say the hybrid model won’t do anything to change the make-up of the council, which is entirely white, while over half the city’s residents are Latino.

A citizen’s advisory council – appointed by the city council – considered a hybrid model but chose not to recommend it.

Under the city charter, voters will have to approve any change to the electoral process, so if the council votes for the hybrid system, it will go on the ballot next year.

Next week, a judge is expected to rule on the ACLU’s case against Anaheim.

The judge said in April he wanted to see what changes the city would make before ruling.